Bridge structure.



A. D. KERSTETTER, DEGD. I. w. KERSTETTEB, ADMINISTRATOR.

BRIDGE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1910.

1,023,781. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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D. KERSTETTBR, DEGD.

. KEESTETTEB, ADMINISTRATOR.

BRIDGE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1910.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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BRIDGE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AARON D. Knnsrn'r'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Oriental, in the county of Juniata and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bridge structures of the culvert type, and has for its object to provide arch supports of simple construction, the manufacture of which may be accomplished at a minimum expense for labor and material, and the erection of which may be accomplished with a minimum amount of temporary truss work.

In devices of this kind it has been custom ary to first build a temporary arch work of scaffolding or other material, upon which the arch is supported during its building.

It is the object of the present invention to eliminate a large part of the temporary sup ports, making the device self-supporting during the intermediate stages of construction.

Another object is to provide a novel form of key beam arranged to hold a plurality of arch sections in proper constructive relation.

Another object is to provide an eiiicient anchorage.

A further object is to provide an economical means for supporting a hand rail at opposite sides of the bridge.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional View of the culvert. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the key beams. Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the anchor members. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the key beams. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the key beam core. Fig. 8 is a slightly modified form of the invention, showing two arches being employed.

In the drawings, there is shown a culvert constructed of elements formed of concrete. The anchor members 12 and 12 are formed of concrete and have the enlarged base flange l5 and the inclined radial seat 16'. Supported upon the anchor members are the arch sections C, arranged in three concentric series with key members D engaged therebetween. The arch sections 0 are formed of concrete in any suitable manner, their opposite end edges being arranged on a radius of their arc. The upper ends of the lower serles are supported upon flanges 18 formed upon the members D, and abut against a central key portion 19 formed on the members D. The key portion at each end of the members D is formed with sides undercut slightly as shown in Fig. 3, whereby they are securely supported by the abutting ends of the arch sections C. The intermediate key portions are formed with approximately parallel walls extended in parallel relation to a plane from the axis of the arch of the brldge for a purpose to be subsequently indicated.

To insure the efliciency of the key members they are reinforced by means of the plates 27 rectangular in shape and coincident in size with the lower faces of the key members D. The plate 27 is disposed on the lower face of the members D, and adjacent its opposite end is stamped upwardly to provide the U-shaped brace member 28, leaving a tongue 29 extending horizontally on a line with the major portion of the plate, and in which there is formed a suitable opening 30. Spaced a short distance in wardly of this opposite end there are stamped upwardly extending key flanges 31 slightly enlarged at their outer ends, and having a shape common to that of the end key portions 19 as shown. The concrete is molded upon this plate, the flanged portions 32 being extended oppositely to form portions of the flanges 18, and the greater portion of the key arch 19' being formed of the concrete also. At each end of the members D, there is provided a socket 33 arranged to receive a suitable stanchion 34, the lower end of which is tenoned and engaged in the openings 30 of the tongue 29. It will be noted that the opposite arm portions of the U-shaped brace '28 are inclined upwardly, the bight portions registering with the outer edge of the socket 33 where- .by in conjunction with the tongue 29 the stanchion will be securely braced against being forced outwardly, as will be apparent.

In use, suitable foundations having been placed, and the anchor devices disposed thereon, the lower arch plates A or C are disposed thereupon, at opposite sides of the arch to be built, after which the members are disposed thereupon and the central end arch sections disposed in place. At this point the device will be self-supporting, and the intermediate arch sections may be readily disposed in position, the oppositely extending flanges of the key members serving to support them until the necessary operations of construction are complete. In disposing the first end arch sections, it is desirable to use a short wear plate 35 interposed between the ends of the arch sections and the opposite faces of the key portions; this plate serves to support the op posite edges of the tongue 31, and prevent it from cutting into the adjacent arch sections when weight is superposed upon the key member. When all of the concrete arch sections have been disposed in place, suitable grouting is introduced between the sides of the key members and abutting ends of the arch sections as well as in the remaining joints of the structure by which the whole arch is formed into a unitary monolith.

In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a modification of the structure in which two arches are employed. In the construction of this bridge the arches above described are simply duplicated end to end, the adjacent bases being supported commonly upon a central anchor member 12 having oppositely disposed anchor seat portions similar to those above described.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In culvert construction, the combination with supports, of arch sections resting thereon, and key members for interposition between the inner ends of the arch sections, said key members comprising a metal base portion having upstanding tongues cut centrally therefrom and having upwardly bent end portions, there being tongues out from said upwardly bent portions and left in alinement with the base plate, and a congles to the plate, the

crete casing molded on the base plate and formed with central inwardly beveled grooves to engage the ends of the culvert sections and having rectangular end portions lying between the tongue and the ends of the upwardly bent portion, said rectangular ends having stanchion receiving recesses formed therein and extending clownward through the recess provided by the cutting away of the tongues in the upwardly bent portions.-

2. A key member for use in culvert construction comprising a base plate having flaring tongues cut from the central portions thereof and bent upward at right anend portions of the plate having tongues out therefrom and left disposed in alinement with the plate, the end portions being bent or inclined upwardly and having their extreme ends bent to lie parallel to the base plate, and a concrete block molded on the base as a plate, said block having its central portion corresponding in shape to the shape of the upwardly bent tongues to provide longitudinally extending inward beveled recesses on each side of the key member and having its end portions of substantially rectangular shape and being included between the end tongue and the parallel end portion of the plate, the concrete at the ends having stanchion receiving sockets formed therein extending downward through the space pro vided by the cutting out of the end tongue in the diagonally extending portion of the plate, and the end tongues having apertures formed therein in alinement with the said stanchion sockets.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

AARON D. KERSTETTER.

Witnesses:

AMY BARNER, NORMAN BARNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

